Pham Hoang Tung, 23, a former student of the advanced math class at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, has received a full scholarship from Duke University for a doctoral program in statistical science, with a total value of over 10 billion VND.

He previously graduated with First Class Honours from Imperial College London, ranked 2nd globally by QS in 2026.

Pham Hoang Tung. Photo courtesy of the subject.

Pham Hoang Tung. Photo courtesy of the subject.

At the age of 17, Tung moved to England to study at Cambridge Tutors College. His difficulty lay in adapting to the new environment, while his academic English was out of sync with everyday communication. He found ways to connect with teachers and friends from various countries, maintaining his study habits. As a result, Tung achieved three A*s, the highest possible grades in the UK's standardized A-level exams for high school students.

Tung shared that his father passed away from cancer when he was in 9th grade. Around the same time, he happened to read an article about using statistics to decode cancer genes, which sparked his idea for a data analysis tool to help detect the disease early.

Tung also believes that mathematics is becoming increasingly important in the age of data and digital technology. That's why he chose to pursue mathematics and statistics at Imperial College London for his undergraduate degree.

However, telling his story coherently and profoundly in his application essay wasn't easy. Hoang Tung said his first drafts were fragmented and lacked focus. After several rounds of feedback from his uncle and older mentors, he gradually shaped his narrative and adjusted the language and style.

Tung was subsequently accepted and earned a bachelor's degree with First Class Honours—the highest classification at Imperial College London—in 2023.

He recognizes diligence as the most important factor. Besides class time, Tung studied independently at home or in the library, researching advanced materials like specialized books on linear algebra and calculus. He also frequently studied in groups with friends to exchange ideas and analyze difficult problems.

"I always try to combine independent thinking with learning from talented individuals," Tung said.

At Imperial, he was also a member of the Vietnamese Student Association, participating in organizing academic, charitable, and sports events, acting as a bridge between Vietnamese students and the school administration.

After graduating, Tung returned to Vietnam and started as an AI intern at VinBigData (Vingroup Big Data Institute). His department pioneered the application of gene decoding to healthcare in Vietnam. Tung focused on analyzing bacterial genes using and expanding the Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) algorithm, a data analysis technique that separates a large matrix into two smaller matrices where all values are non-negative.

The project aimed to process multimodal single-cell omics data (biological data collected simultaneously from multiple molecule types from the same cell). The system Tung helped develop can automatically learn the contribution of each data source, create concise but information-rich representations of cell identity, support accurate cell group differentiation, and effectively reduce noise.

"Working on the project helped me better understand how to analyze and interpret genetic data, as well as find the link between genes and diseases," Tung said, believing this will be a solid foundation for him to pursue research on cancer genes in the future.

After a while, Tung transitioned to working at a bank. While the job didn't perfectly align with his initial direction, he gained experience handling large datasets and improved his presentation and communication skills in a corporate environment.

Despite the job's progress, Tung felt unsatisfied. He felt like a skilled craftsman operating tools without delving deeper. Therefore, late last year, he decided to apply for doctoral programs at US universities, known for their strengths in AI, data science, and statistics.

Pham Hoang Tung (second from left) and friends. Photo courtesy of the subject.

Pham Hoang Tung (second from left) and friends. Photo courtesy of the subject.

Chu Cong Son, a doctoral graduate from Oxford University and director of D.U.T Consultant, was Hoang Tung's advisor. While working with Tung, Son saw him as a promising candidate with a strong academic CV but needing to refine his personal essay writing skills. Through multiple revisions, Tung's essay became more persuasive, with a consistent structure and a strong personal touch.

"Tung is hardworking, eager to learn, always meticulous in everything, and constantly improving himself," Son said.

Doctor Heather Battey, a research supervisor at Imperial College London, praised Tung's abilities and determination.

"I'm impressed with how quickly Tung grasps new and complex concepts, as well as his passion for mathematics," Battey said.

This August, Hoang Tung will begin his doctoral program at Duke University.

"Duke is very strong in Bayesian statistics, a statistical methodology that I'm very interested in," Tung shared. He aims to excel in the program, publish research in statistics, actively participate in academic conferences, and explore the local culture.

Huyen Trang